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Retiring Justice Glad Legislature Tackled Marriage

Posted at: 05/21/2013 10:59 AM

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Outgoing Supreme Court Justice Paul Anderson says he's glad the Legislature and not the courts made the call on same-sex marriage in Minnesota.

Anderson tells Minnesota Public Radio the Legislature was the right place to decide the question of whether gay marriage should be legal in the state. He says the legislative process is better than the courts for hashing out tough issues.

He predicts the rulings in two closely watched same-sex marriage cases currently before the U.S. Supreme Court will reflect caution and a respect for states' rights. He says letting the states decide such questions would be a conservative, non-activist approach.

Anderson is stepping down as an associate justice at the end of the month because he's reached the mandatory retirement age of 70.

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Information from: Minnesota Public Radio News, http://www.mpr.org

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